[Ladywantsahorse]

Hi:
As some of you may know, I'm a newbie looking for my first horse. I went to see one today, and she looked really nice, healthy and has a wonderful temperment, but as I was examining her, I noticed some roughness under her skin. The lady who was selling the horse, noticed me examining it and said "oh that's nothing to worry about, it's just a little rain rot", then she proceeded to show me another patch.
It's not noticeable, no balding spots or anything, but when touching the horse, you can feel the roughness in certain parts of her body.

Should I be worried about this? Should I stay away from purchasing the horse because of this?
Comments please?

 

[SarahHershey]

Rain rot is just a fungus that grows in moist places on skin, so when it rains, and the horses get wet it grows.

Usually it is nothing, and can clear up by rubbing hand sanitizer on it, or a more fancy anti-fungal cream/spray.

Ocassionally it can cause problems if it gets too big, or grows uncontrolably.

I would have a vet look at it during the vet check if you do decide to procede with it.

 

[Ladywantsahorse]

Thanks for answering. Is it something that occurs in all horses, or are certain individual horses more prone to it than others?

 

[sillybunny11486]

Some get it more then others, it has to do with alot of things.

 

[sillybunny11486]

Rainrot is bacteria (same stuff as scratches)
Ring worm is fungus

 

[SarahHershey]

It really depends on conditions, if a horse is pastured, and out when it rains, or is in a moist humid enviornment they have a greater chance to get it.


And my B on the bacteria vs. fungus... I always confuse the two. hmm, I need to brush up. =D

 

[Ladywantsahorse]

Yes, we've had a lot of rain last summer, so I guess I can't be too surprised at it showing up in various horses I might look at.

So, that leads me to ask another question: Is mud fever the same thing? When I googled rain rot, the first site that came up seemed to meld the two terms together.
(by the way they told me that another one of their horses had mud fever-for a newbie that doesn't know all the horse terms and issues it sounded rather scary)

 

[sillybunny11486]

I believe mud fever = scratches (its like rain rot on the legs)

Ringworm is alot morse serious because its so contageous (people can catch it as well). Make sure the horse doesnt have this instead.

Huge patches indicate rain rot. little circular scabs in different spots around the body indicate ring worm. usually back and butt first, then it spreads with brushing ect.

 

[PaintHorseMares]

Yes, we've had a lot of rain last summer, so I guess I can't be too surprised at it showing up in various horses I might look at.

If you're looking at horses and it has been very wet there this year like it has been in NC, keep in mind that continuous wet conditions in general cause a whole variety of skin and hoof problems.

 

[Ladywantsahorse]

Yes, it was a really wet summer here too. Seemed like it was sunny maybe 8 days out of thirty, most of the summer months.

If you're looking at horses and it has been very wet there this year like it has been in NC, keep in mind that continuous wet conditions in general cause a whole variety of skin and hoof problems.

 

[Ladywantsahorse]

Yep, I know what ringworm is. When I was a child, my father had somehow caught it (never did find out how), and he had this big donut like ring in his hair just behind one ear.

This was just patches of rough skin under the hair. I didn't even notice it until I started doing the monkey pick. LOL (you know, the way monkeys go through each other's fur?)

I believe mud fever = scratches (its like rain rot on the legs)

Ringworm is alot morse serious because its so contageous (people can catch it as well). Make sure the horse doesnt have this instead.

Huge patches indicate rain rot. little circular scabs in different spots around the body indicate ring worm. usually back and butt first, then it spreads with brushing ect.